fight for his mistress, or hold a dignified peace when his enthusiastic praise gains the careless greeting, "The Connecticut? Oh yes, a pretty little stream;" or, as once met the writer's amazed ears, "But you know, the water is so muddy." It is idle to combat the opinions of the contentedly nearsighted and ignorant. He who knows his river-love at its gay beginning in the mountains; its soberer path among the fair lands of Massachusetts ; its varied and nobler valley in its own |